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Tami Erin, the child star who shot to fame playing the titular, precocious 9-year-old protagonist in 1988's "The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking," was collared last Thursday in northern California for allegedly assaulting her male roommate.

Walnut Creek Police tell E! News that they responded to a call at approximately 9:30 p.m. and arrived at the scene to find a neighbor had stepped in and placed Erin under citizens arrest for allegedly punching her roommate several times.

Neither party had any visible injuries. However Tami was booked that night at a nearby station for allegedly assault and was released Friday morning.

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The 38-year-old subsequently released a statement to E! News claiming her roommate was illegally taping her and she was defending herself.

"I'm in the San Francisco Bay area to support my father who had a stroke," she said. "I thought I was in a safe environment and my privacy was illegally violated. I caught this person filming me without my knowledge in my private environment and I was defending myself. He's 6' and I'm a 5'5" small girl. How much has he been filming me without my knowledge? The truth will come out."

Prosecutors are now reviewing the case, but no word whether they'll file any charges.

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